Robinho: I'm leaving City

Manchester City forward Robinho has confirmed he is set to leave Eastlands, with a return to Santos the likely destination.

PUBLISHED: 16:17, Sun, Jan 24, 2010

Robinho [PA]

City manager Roberto Mancini has named Robinho in his starting line-up for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe. And the Brazil forward, who has been unhappy to find himself on the bench in recent matches, admits it could be his last match for City.

"What's important is to be happy," Robinho told Brazilian radio station Radio Bandeirantes. "Money is not everything. First thing is that I am going through a bad period. Here, Mancini said that I would play one game and another no. I didn't accept that and told him so. It's a World Cup year."

Speculation has increased that Robinho is set to leave City after he came off the bench against Everton last weekend, only to be substituted himself before the end.

Reports suggest Robinho, who joined City in a £32.5million move in 2008, is set to take a pay-cut to move back to Santos, with the Barclays Premier League club also continuing to pay part of his wages.

The 25-year-old progressed through the ranks at Santos and played over 100 matches for the Brazilian outfit before leaving to Real Madrid in 2005.

And he would love a return, adding: "The directors all agree that it's better to send me out on loan.

"It would be exceptional to return to Santos.

"Playing for Santos would help me in my path to the World Cup. It is my home, I know everyone."

Robinho also revealed that his friend and compatriot Diego had told him to join him at Juventus but that he had responded: "Di, I would do better to go fishing. No, I'm going to Brazil."

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